Swastikas in the hallway. “Burn the Jews” at a fire drill. Could this happen in the Northampton schools? It turns out it could and … it did, as I learned from the parents of a student.

So that question is tragically answered already this school year, and what we’re left with as members of a community are the tasks of 1) naming the reality of the antisemitism they portray, and 2) identifying what will address them and prevent their recurrence.

Certainly, these are not the only examples of antisemitism in the Northampton schools as has been recognized by the 83 Jewish parents who requested the training for teachers that occurred last month. In response, the superintendent agreed to use professional development time for a training on antisemitism.

The training was questioned incorrectly by other members of our community. The assumption that Project Shema is closely affiliated with the Jewish Anti-Defamation League that led to a petition with 600 signatures has already been written powerfully about in a guest column by Rabbi David Seidenberg, “Project Shema: Truth not travesty,” [Gazette, Sept. 7].

It was the inaccurate equation of these two organizations that led to the decision to make the training optional and deprive two-thirds of the teachers of the opportunity to gain deeper awareness, understanding and techniques to educate their students in what antisemitism is (expressed hatred, malice and prejudice in words or actions against individuals or groups of Jewish people) and isn’t (criticism of and protest against Israel’s government).

For students to be able to have the knowledge of the history of antisemitism in this country and abroad, their teachers need to receive the proper training to have a community that is protective of Jewish students and affirming of their identities.

The same needs to occur with respect to our Muslim students and their families. Similar Islamophobic incidents are occurring in the schools. Islamophobia is a reality in our valley and beyond and Muslim families living in Northampton are affected, which all students need to understand and have the same kind of empathy as antisemitism requires.

We recently acknowledged the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, after which Islamophobia was rampant across the land, a history about which students should be taught. I was thus pleased to learn that there will be such a training for Northampton teachers in November. It will be my hope that any ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or gender that is experiencing discrimination in the schools will result in additional training and a clear response from the administration of the Northampton Public Schools.

Most importantly, these trainings need to be obligatory or the message to the teachers and students is that these are not serious enough concerns as to require everyone’s participation. No student or teacher should be subjected to the hateful acts and speech mentioned at the beginning of this column. The only way to prevent such words and actions from recurring is to make it clear to the entire community that they will not be tolerated. That alone will indicate to all teachers and students that the Northampton schools have a commitment to their being in a safe, caring and supportive community.

Tom Weiner taught at the Smith College Campus School for 40 years and is the author of numerous books about racial justice. He lives in Northampton.